You need to take the perscription for gerd cause it can cause barrets esophagusitis and thats bad. The only alternative is to alter your diet completely. Look up gerd diets. You could have a gluten allergy. Very hard changing diet but most definitely related. Add acidophilis pearls to your regimen. I had gerd for twelve years and now i have been off all meds for three but it was a lot of work to get there. A nutritionist can definitely help you.